There are hopes that a masterplan for the upgrade of a much-needed railway station may soon get back on track.

Witney MP Robert Courts urged Oxfordshire County Council to accelerate 'realistic' upgrades to the Cotswold Line which runs through Hanborough Station.

This would boost its importance as a key transport hub and integrate it into a wider transport strategy for the area into Oxford and London.

In 2020 West Oxfordshire District Council gave £15,000 match-funding a similar contribution from Oxfordshire County Council to develop the upgrades for the station.  

The proposals involve double tracking two sections of the line between Wolvercote and Hanborough, as well as Evesham and Pershore further up the line, which will allow for two trains an hour to Oxford and then on to London.  

The station itself would become a travel hub with a second platform, more car parking, integrated bus routes linking local towns to the station, more cycle parking and a pedestrian bridge.  

However, this work has stalled and the Hanborough Station sub-group, which would deliver the improvements, has not met.

Mr Courts, a frequent user of the Cotswold Line, recently arranged a meeting of the North Cotswold Line Partnership, officials from Oxfordshire County Council and council leader Liz Leffman with Rail Minister Huw Merriman to call for the re-starting of the sub-group.

He said: "There is not - and never will be, under any government - a magic pot of money into which a hand can be dipped to extract vast funds for projects at no cost.

"It is for this reason, I have been focusing on making full use of the rail links we already have, by calling for realistic upgrades to the Cotswold Line."

Oxfordshire County Council said it is working to relaunch the North Cotswold Line Partnership, but this will need Government help to progress.

It said it has just appointed a permanent rail officer and is preparing a new strategy to develop and expand the rail network across Oxfordshire for formal adoption at cabinet on November 19.

This will be subject to public consultation over the summer.

The council said this will set out timelines for a range of infrastructure improvements including four- and double-tracking, phased electrification and the development of a series of ‘Mobility Hubs’ at railway stations across Oxfordshire, including Hanborough.

A spokesperson said: "We are committed to the North Cotswold Line transformation and redevelopment of Hanborough as a key hub for West Oxfordshire and are fully supportive of the MP's ambition.

"With his help, we are working to relaunch the North Cotswold Line Partnership, but this will need Government backing and support to progress.

"Because the redevelopment of Hanborough Station is reliant on the wider project to upgrade the North Cotswold Line, we can only meaningfully progress improvements at Hanborough if these happen.

"If we get this commitment from Government, then we will form a Hanborough Station Sub-Group including key local partners to devise and deliver a package of improvements, with an initial workshop to agree membership, terms of reference and a timeframe for investment."

The council said it is planning to meet the Rail Minister in early June as a follow-up to a discussion, arranged by Mr Courts, in late March.

Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Charlie Maynard is the former chair of the Witney Oxford Transport Group, which proposes building a rail link connecting Carterton, Witney, and Eynsham to Oxford.

A study published by the county council last summer showed it would be feasible and profitable, but construction costs for the rail line alone, without buying the land, were estimated at between £700 - £900 million.

It would also depend on the upgrade to the North Cotswold Line being funded and completed.

Mr Maynard said: "I’m certainly a fan of improvements to the Cotswold line and I very much hope that the funding comes through.

"However, any changes at Hanborough will make very little difference to the dire transport situation on the A40.

"Car traffic will be 30 minutes slower by 2031 and that is after the four miles of bus lanes that he [Mr Courts] proposed are up and running for a cost of £180million."

Labour’s parliamentary candidate Georgia Meadows is also campaigning to get a train station in Witney.

She said: "I believe that upgrading Hanborough station certainly can’t hurt the situation, but that a station in Witney is the ultimate solution. 

"Obviously, that’s as and when the funding - £900 million for a Witney line alone - can be found for either, which is quite a steep ask with current economic circumstances."